Director of Preconstruction - Saint Louis, Missouri

MissionHires is hiring a Director of Preconstruction for a leading design-and-delivery partner serving financial institutions, healthcare providers, and corporations. This senior leader will own all preconstruction activities—budgeting, conceptual estimating, scheduling, vendor strategy, and startup readiness—while mentoring a high-performing team and ensuring a seamless handoff to project execution. The ideal candidate brings deep construction operations knowledge, outstanding client communication, and a track record of delivering accurate estimates and value engineering from concept through contract. Responsibilities Lead all preconstruction activities, including budgeting, conceptual estimating, and construction scheduling across all design phases Oversee purchasing strategy, material pricing, and vendor selection to secure competitive rates and maintain quality standards Conduct monthly pricing reviews for key commodities and negotiate with multiple vendors to optimize cost Collaborate closely with the Vice President of Build to align purchasing and cost strategies with company financial goals Maintain and continuously improve cost databases to ensure accurate pricing for projects, allowances, and design alternates Develop and implement value engineering strategies to reduce costs without compromising quality Create, manage, and drive the preconstruction schedule to ensure on-time, seamless handoff to production Lead weekly estimate schedules and ensure readiness for client presentation meetings Ensure complete startup packages (geotechnical reports, design documents, detailed estimates, site plans, permits) prior to breaking ground Drive continuous process improvement to streamline workflows and eliminate inefficiencies in preconstruction Serve as key liaison among clients, design teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration Provide strategic oversight from conceptual design through final contract execution Lead, mentor, and develop a team of preconstruction professionals, ensuring accuracy and comprehensiveness of estimates Facilitate high-quality communication, run effective meetings, and manage cross-department collaboration Ensure alignment of preconstruction deliverables with project execution needs and client expectations Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or equivalent experience 10+ years of related experience in design and construction managing multiple complex projects Proven leadership experience delivering projects on budget and on schedule Strong understanding of construction operations and logistical planning Demonstrated expertise in conceptual and detailed estimating, scheduling, and vendor/commodity management Experience with financial management of projects, including budgets, contracts, cashflow, and reporting Proficiency with estimating software, current construction cost data, and material procurement data (e.g., BIM, Procore, Acumatica) Exceptional client-service orientation with strong verbal and written communication skills Ability to lead meetings, manage workload proactively, and drive cross-functional collaboration Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence Benefits Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays Retirement savings plan Sabbatical program Hybrid work schedule Employee referral bonuses #J-18808-Ljbffr MissionHires